Top frame of crib and method for folding the top frame

ABSTRACT

The top frame of a crib includes a locking unit pivotably connected between first and second ends of a first side of the top frame. A pivotal unit is pivotably connected between first and second ends of a second side of the top frame. The locking unit securely connects the first and second ends of the first side, while the pivotal unit is only pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side and cannot secure the first and second ends of the second side. The top frame is folded by releasing the locking unit only. This is convenient for the user who has one hand holding the baby and uses the other hand to fold the top frame of the crib.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a top frame of a crib and a method for folding the top frame, and more particularly, to a top frame which can be easily folded by releasing a single unit.

2. Description of Related Art

The conventional top frame of a crib is disclosed in Taiwan Published No. M382780 and includes a joint at the mediate portion of each side of the top frame, and the top frame can be folded by operation of the joints.

Taiwan Published No. M345539 and M382780 discloses similar top frame and each includes a joint at the mediate portion of each side of the top frame, and the top frame can be folded by operation of the joints.

All of the examples of the prior art have to operate the joints one by one to fold the top frame so that it takes time to fold and is not convenient to the users.

The present invention intends to provide a top frame of a crib wherein the user can fold the top frame by operation to the only one locking unit by one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a top frame of a crib and comprises a rectangular top frame having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. The first side and the second side extend toward the same direction. The first side has a first end and a second end, and the second side has a first end and a second end. A locking unit is pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the first side. A pivotal unit is pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side. The locking unit securely connects the first and second ends of the first side. The pivotal unit is pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side and is not able to secure the first and second ends of the second side.

The method for folding the top frame of the crib is simply to unlock the locking unit pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the first side of the top frame. The first and second ends of the second side of the top frame are pivoted because the pivotal unit is only pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side and cannot secure the first and second ends of the second side. Two end members are respectively connected to the first end and the second end of the first side. When any of the engaging members is pressed, and the first or second end corresponding to the engaging member is pivoted to its extreme position, and the end member on the first end or the second end is hooked with the engaging member, the other engaging member is driven so that the two engaging members are not contact the first and second ends of the first side, the locking unit is unlocked. The pivotal unit is then folded along with the folding action of the locking unit, the top frame is folded.

The top frame is folded by releasing the locking unit only. This is convenient for the user who has one hand holding the baby and uses the other hand to fold the top frame of the crib.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the crib with top frame of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view to show the pivotal unit of the top frame of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows that when the engaging member is pressed, the locking unit of the top frame of the present invention is unlocked, and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view to show another pivotal unit of the top frame of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the top frame of a crib of the present invention comprises a rectangular top frame 1 having a first side 1 a, a second side 1 b, a third side 1 c and a fourth side 1 d. The first side 1 a and the second side 1 b extend toward the same direction, and the third and fourth sides 1 c, 1 d extend toward another direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the first and second sides 1 a, 1 b. The first side 1 a has a first end 11 a and a second end 12 a, and the second side 1 b has a first end 11 a and a second end 12 a. A locking unit 4 is pivotably connected between the first and second ends 11 a, 12 a of the first side 1 a, and a pivotal unit 5 is pivotably connected between the first and second ends 11 b, 12 b of the second side 1 b. Four upright members 3 are connected to the four corners of the top frame 1 and a bottom frame 2 is connected to the four upright members 3. The bottom frame 2 has two U-shaped links 21 which are connected to a base 22.

The locking unit 4 has a body 41, two engaging member 42, a resilient member 43 and two ends members 44. The locking unit 4 securely connects the first and second ends 11 a, 12 a of the first side 1 a.

The locking unit 4 comprises a body 41 which has two side panels 412 extending from two sides of the connection section 411. A space 413 is defined between the two side panels 412.

The two engaging members 42 are located in the space 413 and respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels 412 by two respective first pins 421. The two engaging members 42 each have a support section 422 extending along a first direction M (toward the top frame 1). Each of the support portions 422 has a rib 423 extending from a top thereof. The end face of each of the support portions 422 that extends toward a second direction N (toward each other) has a block 424. The two engaging members 42 each have a connection part 425 extending along the second direction N. The two respective connection parts 425 are engaged with each other in a protrusion-recess way. The connection part 425 of one of the engaging members 42 has a pivot 426. The connection part 425 of the other one of the engaging members 42 has an elongate hole 427 in which the pivot 426 is inserted. Each of the two engaging members 42 has a press section 428 extending along a third direction O (away from each other).

The resilient member 43 has two ends respectively mounted to the two blocks 424 of the support portions 422 of the two engaging members 42.

Two end members 44 are respectively connected to the first end 11 a and the second end 12 a of the first side 1 a. Each of the two end members 44 has a notch 441 with which the support portion 422 corresponding thereto is engaged. Each of the support portions 422 has a rib 423 extending from the top thereof and each of the end members 44 has a groove 442 defined in the inner periphery the notch 441, the rib 423 is engaged with the groove 442.

One of two second pins 443 extends through the side panel 412, the first end 11 a and one end member 44. The other second pin 443 extends through the other side panel 412, the second end 12 a and the other end members 44. The first and second ends 11 a, 12 a are pivotably connected to each other, and the end members 44 are securely connected to the first and second ends 11 a, 12 a.

The pivotal unit 5 is pivotably connected between the first and second ends 11 b, 12 b of the second side 1 b and is not able to secure the first and second ends 11 b, 12 b of the second side 1 b. The pivotal unit 5 comprises a body 51 which has two side panels 512 extending from two sides of the connection section 511. A space 513 is defined between the two side panels 512. One of two third pins 52 extends through the side panel 512 and the first end 11 b of the second side 1 b. The other third pin 52 extends through the other side panel 512 and the second end 12 b of the second side 1 b. The body 51 is pivotably connected to the first and second ends 11 b, 12 b.

When expanding the crib, the four sides, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d are located on a horizontal plane, the notches 441 of the end members 44 on the first and second ends 11 a, 12 a of the first side 1 a are engaged with the support portions 422 of the engaging members 42. The two engaging members 42 are biased by the resilient member 43 located therebetween, and the two respective connection parts 425 are in contact with each other so that the two engaging members 42 maintained a support status. The top frame 1 is well expanded by the engaging members 42 and other support parts.

Referring to FIG. 5, when folding the top frame 1, the press section 428 of any of the engaging members 42 is pressed, and the first or second end 11 a or 12 a corresponding to the engaging member 42 is not supported by the engaging member 42. The first end 11 b or the second end 12 b of the side 1 b is simply pivotably connected to the pivotal unit 5, so that when the locking unit 4 is unlocked, the top frame is folded.

When the press section 428 of one of the engaging members 42 is pressed, the engaging member 42 is pivoted about the first pin 421 in the first direction M. Because the two engaging members 42 are in contact by the two connection parts 425, the other engaging member 42 is pivoted about the first pin 421 in the first direction M. The support portions 422 are not support the end members 44 in the first and second ends 11 a, 12 a, so that the engaging members 42 do not support the first and second ends 11 a, 12 a, and the locking unit 4 is unlocked.

Each of the engaging members 42 has a hook portion 429 extending toward the first direction M from the distal end of the press section 428. If the press section 428 of one of the engaging members 42 is pressed, while the support portion 422 of the other engaging member 42 is not disengaged from the end member 44 as expected, when the second end 12 a is pivoted close to its extreme position, the hook portion 429 of one of the engaging members 42 hooks the notch 441 of the end member 44 to force the engaging member 42 to drive the other engaging member 42. Therefore, the support portion 422 of said the other engaging member 42 is disengaged from the notch 441 of the end member 44 on the second end 12 a. Accordingly, when one side of the locking unit 4 is unlocked, the other side of the locking unit 4 is also unlocked automatically. This can avoid the locking unit 4 from being damaged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the body 41 has a case 414 mounted thereto and the case 414 has a button 415 extending from the inner end thereof. The button 415 has two hooks 4151 on two sides thereof. The two hooks 4151 contact the protrusions 4141 on two sides of the inner end of the case 414. The button 415 has two push portions 4152 which are located corresponding to the press sections 428 of the engaging members 42. When the button 415 is pressed, the push portion 4152 pushes the press section 428 to fold the locking unit 4.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the pivotal unit 6 which comprises two pivotal members 61, 62 which are connected to each other by two respective corresponding ends. A fourth pin 63 extends through the two respective corresponding ends to pivotably connect the two pivotal members 61, 62. The other end of each of the two pivotal members 61, 62 is pivotably connected to the first end 11 b/second end 12 b of the second side 1 b. Two fifth pins 64 respectively extend through the first end 11 b of the first pivotal member 61 and the second end 12 b of the other pivotal member 62, so that the first and second ends 11 b, 12 b of the second side 1 b are pivotably connected to the pivotal unit 6.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A top frame of a crib, comprising: a rectangular top frame having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the first side and the second side extending toward the same direction, the first side having a first end and a second end, the second side having a first end and a second end, a locking unit pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the first side, a non-locking pivotal unit pivotably connected between the first and second ends of the second side, the locking unit releasably locking the first and second ends of the first side.
 2. The top frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking unit comprises a body which has two side panels extending from two sides of the connection section, a space is defined between the two side panels, two engaging members are located in the space and respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two respective first pins, the two engaging members each having a support section extending along a first direction, the two engaging members each having a connection part extending along a second direction, the two respective connection parts are engaged with each other in a protrusion-recess way, the connection part of one of the engaging members has a pivot, the connection part of the other one of the engaging members has elongate hole in which the pivot is inserted, each of the two engaging members has a press section extending along a third direction, a resilient member located between the two respective support portions of the two engaging members, two end members are respectively connected to the first end and the second end of the first side, each of the two end members has a notch with which the support portion corresponding thereto is engaged, two second pins respectively extend through the side panels, the first end, the second end and the end members.
 3. The top frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the support portions has a rib extending from a top thereof and each of the end members has a groove defined in an inner periphery the notch, the rib is engaged with the groove.
 4. The top frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the engaging members has a hook portion extending toward the first direction from a distal end of the press section.
 5. The top frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body has a case mounted thereto and the case has a button extending from an inner end thereof, the button has two hooks on two sides thereof, the two hooks contact the protrusions on two sides of the inner end of the case, the button has two push portions which are located corresponding to the press sections of the engaging members.
 6. A method for folding the top frame of a crib, comprising: installing a locking unit which is pivotably connected between first and second ends of a first side of the top frame; and installing a non-locking pivotal unit which is pivotably connected between first and second ends of a second side of the top frame, the locking unit releasably locking the first and second ends of the first side, and the top frame being folded by releasing the locking unit.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking unit comprises a body which has two side panels extending from two sides of the connection section, a space is defined between the two side panels, two engaging members are located in the space and respectively and pivotably connected to the two side panels by two respective first pins, the two engaging members each having a support section extending along a first direction, the two engaging members each having a connection part extending along a second direction, the two respective connection parts are engaged with each other in a protrusion-recess way, the connection part of one of the engaging members has a pivot, the connection part of the other one of the engaging members has an elongate hole in which the pivot is inserted, each of the two engaging members has a press section extending along a third direction, a resilient member located between the two respective support portions of the two engaging members, two end members are respectively connected to the first end and the second end of the first side, each of the two end members has a notch with which the support portion corresponding thereto is engaged, two second pins respectively extend through the side panels, the first end, the second end and the end members.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the support portions has a rib extending from a top thereof and each of the end members has a groove defined in an inner periphery the notch, the rib is engaged with the groove.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the engaging members has a hook portion extending toward the first direction from a distal end of the press section.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the body has a case mounted thereto and the case has a button extending from an inner end thereof, the button has two hooks on two sides thereof, the two hooks contact the protrusions on two sides of the inner end of the case, the button has two push portions which are located corresponding to the press sections of the engaging members. 